MM meets TNA wrestler 'The Star Attraction' Mark Haskins

HASKINS: Third home tour for UK wrestler

By Steven Oldham, Sports Correspondent

TNA's upcoming British wrestler Mark Haskins is set for a third successive appearance on the company's Maximum Impact UK tour.

Maximum Impact comes to the Manchester Arena on Friday January 25 as part of a five date UK and Ireland tour.

Haskins made his TNA debut on the 2010 European tour and has since joined the  roster full time.

He said: "Everytime TNA comes back to the UK it's getting bigger.  The venues get bigger and they still sell out."

"It's great to see a company I grew up watching doing so well globally."

Faringdon-born Haskins will join the likes of TNA World Champion Bobby Roode, Olympic gold medallist Kurt Angle and the high flying Jeff Hardy on the tour.

"Bobby Roode is one of the best wrestlers I've ever fought against.  Guys like him and Austin Aries are at the top of their game."

"It's easy to see that these guys deserve their success."

Mark lost to X Division Champion Aries in London this January in a match recorded for the company's showcase Impact Wrestling show.

Despite the loss, Mark enjoyed the opportunity.

"It's cool to perform in front of such large audiences - I'm very fortunate," he said.

Before signing with TNA, Mark has wrestled in various promotions worldwide, including in Japan, the US and here in England.

He has won tag championships in three different promotions in the UK and also held a cruiserweight belt for over a year in two spells whilst wrestling for the Essex-based Real Quality Wrestling.

So, with several months between now and the British tour, what does the futute hold for Haskins?  Given his previous tag success, will he strike up a partnership to challenge current TNA tag champions Christopher Daniels and Kazarian?

He said: "As long as I'm performing I don't mind whether it's in singles or tag.  I enjoy tag, and so do the fans - it adds something different to the show."

"My aims before I wrestle in Manchester are to be the best I can be and perform to the top of my ability."

He admits the main difference between TNA and the other promotions he has wrestled for is the massive gulf in finance.

"Everything gets more hype here.  TNA is watched by millions of fans globally.  Not to take anything away from the other places I've wrestled - there's plenty of talented fighters there."

"The British scene is filled with so much potential, it's incredible  - there's plenty of wrestlers there who could make it to the big leagues if they keep on putting the hard work in."

You can buy tickets to see Mark and the other stars of TNA through www.ticketmaster.co.uk

For more information on Mark's career visit his website, www.markhaskins.co.uk

Follow Steven Oldham on Twitter - @spoldham